2014 Cadillac ATS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Cadillac ATS has 141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (20% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2014 cadillac ats. after shifting into park, the vehicle reversed and the gear shifter was unable to move. the contact turned the vehicle off and it failed to restart. the vehicle was towed to a dealer, but the technician could not determine the cause of the failure. the manuf. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 8 crash reports 13 injuries

141

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

28 complaints

20%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE REVERSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUF
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE
• 0N MORE THAN FIVE OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE HAS ACCELERATED WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I'VE HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO GET THE RPM'S BACK TO NORMAL.THE LAST 2 TIMES MY WIFE HAS BEEN WITH ME IN THE CAR ,SHE NOW REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE CAR. I'VE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIME SPEC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE REVERSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

26 complaints

18%

• PLEASE FORWARD TO [XXX] AT EXT. [XXX] COPY -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [XXX] TO: [XXX] SENT: THU, JAN 15, 2015 8:06 PM SUBJECT: CUSTOMER NR. [XXX] AND [XXX] [XXX], RECALL #14340 (CORRECTED 4:00 PM JAN. 21/15 SERVICE 444512) WAS COMPLETED BY SULLIVAN CADILLAC OCALA FL.
• I WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR CRASH ON 8-11-14. MY HUSBAND BROUGHT MY A 2014 CADILLAC ATS FOR MY BIRTHDAY. A FEW MONTHS AFTER OWNERSHIP I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT RAINED THE CAR WOULD HYDROPLANE BUT THE STABILITRAK WOULD MAKE THE VEHICLE JUMP BACK INTO IT'S LANE. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT I WAS BEING A BRAT, SO
• I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP (KATHERINE COLE WHO SOLD US THE RUN FLAT TIRES), TWEETED GM. NO ONE AT THIS POINT HAS BEEN THE LEAST BIT INTERESTED IN WHAT I HAD I TO SAY. AFTER MY CRASH, ON AUGUST 11, 2014, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER ATS OWNERS THAT EXPERIENCE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE..MY DAUGHTER AND I SUFF

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“PLEASE FORWARD TO [XXX] AT EXT. [XXX] COPY -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [XXX] TO: [XXX] SENT: THU, JAN 15, 2015 8:06 PM SUBJECT: CUSTOMER NR. [XXX] AND [XXX] [XXX], RECALL #14340 (CORRECTED 4:00 PM JAN. 21/15 SERVICE 444512) WAS COMPLETED BY SULLIVAN CADILLAC OCALA FL.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

13%

• WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND A NEW E
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE'S BACK-UP CAMERA FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRACTURED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE
• MY 2014 CADILLAC ATS WAS RECALLED DUE TO FAULTY AUTO REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER AND THEY DISCONNECTED THE AUTO DEFOGGER. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS THE FIX ORDERED BY GM. I CAN NOW OPERATE MY REAR DEFOGGER MANUALLY ONLY. MY AUTO OPTION NO LONGER WORKS. I CALLED GM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND A NEW E”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

15 complaints

11%

• WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND A NEW E
• I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW ON 1/16/14. ON 2/19/14 THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR ASSEMBLY. ON 3/18/14 THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE MILEAGE WAS ABOUT 1,500.. NOW I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THAT
• THE "CHECK ENGINE" INDICATOR CAME ON, SOON THEREAFTER, "STABILITRAK" AND "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" INDICATORS CAME ON. TEN MINUTES LATER, THE CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER 10-15 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED UP AGAIN WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STILL ON. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT A CAD

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

10 complaints

• VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON LEVEL ROADS, CAN'T KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. DEALER REFUSES TO RECTIFY, SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL, SINCE THEIR OTHER MODELS ARE THE SAME. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE YOU ARE AFRAID TO BLINK AND MAY END UP IN ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. JUST USING IT FOR CITY
• VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, VERY HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON HIGHWAY, THEREFORE IT IS ONLY USED IN CITY AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER 11 MONTHS IT HAS LESS THAN 3,000 KM ON IT. DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, IT IS BECAUSE OF THE ELECTRIC STEERING. ACCORDING TO THEM, AL
• INTERMITTENT ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILURES. FAILURES SEEM TO OCCUR MOST OFTEN WHEN THE CAR IS COLD AND BACKING OUT OF DRIVE WAY OR PARKING SPACES. POWER STEERING WILL WORK FOR A VERY SHORT PERIOD THEN FAIL LEAVING TYPICALLY WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A BACKING MANEUVER WHEN LEAVING MY DRIVE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“VEHICLE WANDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON LEVEL ROADS, CAN'T KEEP IT IN A STRAIGHT LINE. DEALER REFUSES TO RECTIFY, SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL, SINCE THEIR OTHER MODELS ARE THE SAME. IT IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE YOU ARE AFRAID TO BLINK AND MAY END UP IN ANOTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. JUST USING IT FOR CITY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 141 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 CADILLAC ATS. AFTER SHIFTING INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE REVERSED AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS UNABLE TO MOVE. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND IT FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: PLEASE FORWARD TO [XXX] AT EXT. [XXX] COPY -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: [XXX] TO: [XXX] SENT: THU, JAN 15, 2015 8:06 PM SUBJECT: CUSTOMER NR. [XXX] AND [XXX] [XXX], RECALL #14340 (CORRECTED 4:00 PM JAN. 21/15 SERVICE 444512) WAS COMPLETED BY SULLIVAN CADILLAC OCALA FL.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND A NEW E
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THERE WAS A TOTAL SHUT DOWN OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EMERGENCY BLINKERS COULD NOT BE ENGAGED, THE CAR COULD NOT BE SHIFTED. THE CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE SHOP, THE DEALER ADVISED ME THE ENGINE FAILED AND A NEW E
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)